Art Forms in Nature (Dover Pictorial Archive)

I am fascinated by the "Art Forms in Nature". The natural designs are unbelievable and amazing. There are tons of ideas for mandalas and other creations (especially beading). This book can really enhance your imagination. I gave it only four stars because I was disappointed that none of the plates are in color....only on the cover.

If you are an artist seeking images , patterns, and forms to stoke your creativity, this is the book for you. CRAMMED with fabulous images, I use it constantly. You can’t go wrong with this affordable gold mine.

Well, you're gonna love these strange illustrations.

This book would have been far more impressive in color. We live in a world of color. The cover is in color and very imrpressive...black & white doesn't do much for a book in this format. Very disappointed. Will not order other books in this series.

This book is so amazing and beautiful. Everyone in the house wants a copy. The book arrived in great shape and when promised.

This book is so amazing. So interesting and inspiring for art use.

Anyone who 'knows' Dover books, will probably agree that they offer good quality for very reasonable prices. There is nothing 'wrong' with this book, except that all the plates are in black and white, and there is no information on Haeckel and his times. Prestel has also published this book of plates, with a highly informative article on Haeckel, his influences, and those influenced by him included, AND with many of the plates 'in color' (that is, often one color in different -subtle - hues, or a color scheme based on two colors). Unless you are a strictly 'black and white' person, I would advise you to look for the Prestel book.

I was amazed at the beauty and detail of the illustrations of natural forms! If you are interested in design, especially for jewelry ideas, this is a treasurehouse! Many of the natural forms remind me of Art Nouveau jewelry!

I ordered 2 of these books, one for me and the other for a friend. Although parcelled together in Amazon's usual stiff card packet, one of the books had been mistreated at some stage, the cover being bent in various places. I kept the damaged copy and gave the other as a gift. For £7 it wasn't worth the trouble of sending it back for a replacement - but I would not have given that copy as a gift.I've seen other similar comments about the condition - so something needs addressing here!

It came Black and White and I expected full colour. But it was in the book "look inside". I expected a proper description saying that on the title.

Usually a fan of Dover but this is a thin offering - despite the cover, all images are black & white, and there's no accompanying text. Go for the Prestel edition: lots of colour plates and a useful introductory essay.

Its long-lasting appearance in print is well deserved for its exceptional illustrations of a little known world.

Wow !! I can sit and gaze in awe for hours, at these wonderful illustrations. What an artist ! What patience he must have had ! Inspiration for the nature-lover, artist, or those like me who like to simply gaze in wonder at the infinite diversity and beauty, of lifeforms.